Affiliations: [a] HIP and MAL Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Science, Inje University, Gimhae, Korea | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae, Korea
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Won-Gyu Yoo, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Inje University: 197 Inje-ro, Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do 621-749, Korea. Tel.: +82 55 320 3994; E-mail: won7y@inje.ac.kr.
Abstract: PURPOSE: We compared a goniometer method in a non-weight-bearing position with a tape measure method in a weight-bearing position to determine which was more reliable for assessing dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: Ankle dorsiflexion ROM was measured using goniometer and tape measure methods in non-weight- and weight-bearing positions, respectively. RESULTS: In the test-retest reliability of ankle dorsiflexion ROM using a universal goniometer, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) varied from 0.75 to 0.96 and the overall ICC score was 0.91 (p< 0.001). In the test-retest reliability of ankle dorsiflexion ROM using a tape measure, ICC varied from 0.98 to 0.99 and the overall ICC score was 0.99 (p< 0.001). Ankle dorsiflexion ROM using a universal goniometer had a standard error of measurement (SEM) of 2.86 and a minimum detectable change (MDC) of 7.94. Ankle dorsiflexion ROM using a tape measure had an SEM of 1.01 and a MDC of 2.80. CONCLUSIONS: The tape measure method in a weight-bearing position was more reliable than using a universal goniometer in a non-weight-bearing position in children with CP.
Keywords: Goniometry, minimum detectable change, weight-bearing lunge test
